Losing Ground

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Losing Ground

1982

1h 26m

Comedy

Drama

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96%

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24 Reviews

37%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

A philosophy professor (Seret Scott) prides herself on being liberal but is jealous of her artist husband's (Bill Gunn) gorgeous model (Maritza Rivera).

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Critics Consensus

As beautifully filmed as it is narratively nuanced, Losing Ground uses one couple's experiences to thoughtfully consider universal aspects of the human condition.

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Jesse Cataldo

Slant Magazine

The inherent tension of this scenario is ratcheted up gradually, across patient, theatrically composed scenes.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 1, 2022

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Nijla Mu'min

Bitch Media

Losing Ground stands as a bold testament to black, womanist filmmaking, and to American filmmaking, as a platform that we all stand upon.

Feb 3, 2021

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Melissa Anderson

4Columns

Defined by a nimble élan and piercing wit, Collins's movie ranks as one of the best about a marriage between two ambitious members of the creative class.

Sep 25, 2020

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Scott stating that these characters were in stark contrast to the iconic blaxploitation characters of that era helped me appreciate the independent film more and understand why it did not gain traction until years after it was released.

Jun 2, 2024

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

The brilliance of its imagery shines just as bright as the complex story at its heart.

Feb 13, 2024

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Eve Tushnet

Patheos

It didn’t quite work for me.

Mar 24, 2023

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Michael E

If Woody Allen had produced this with a white cast--thematically and cinematically it resembles his work, although with a feminist spin--it would have received critical attention. Instead, it was created in 1982 by a black woman on a budget of $125,000. Of course, it was therefore ignored and it disappeared. Fortunately, 25 years later, it was rediscovered. Unfortunately, director Kathleen Collins had died long before, so she did not live to see the appreciation this work richly deserves.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/27/22

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Audience Member

This movie made me think, it made me laugh and it made me want to see it again

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

Collins proves to be an intelligent, insightful, and nuanced filmmaker.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

A highly intellectual film about a scholarly professor and a free spirit artist.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

Amateurish performances and production values really get in the way. Feels like a student film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

another love triangle movie

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Kathleen Collins

Director

William Gunn

Victor

Seret Scott

Sara

Maritza Rivera

Celia

Billie Allen

Mother

Duane Jones

Duke

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Synopsis

A philosophy professor (Seret Scott) prides herself on being liberal but is jealous of her artist husband's (Bill Gunn) gorgeous model (Maritza Rivera).

Director: Kathleen Collins
Producer: Eleanor Charles
Screenwriter: Kathleen Collins
Production Co: Milestone Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 26m

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